Hydration and Productivity in the Office
Hydrated employees are happier, healthier, more motivated, and more productive – which is why every company needs to know how to fit hydration into its overall workspace wellness strategy.
When water loss in our bodies exceeds water intake, dehydration occurs. While this is most common during exercise or illness, it can also happen in the workspace. In Australia, this is a real risk when employees are exposed to high temperatures or physical activity and forget to drink enough fluids. Employees in air conditioned office environments with no ventilation are also at risk. Use of Air-conditioning means that there is a low water content in the atmosphere, leading to increased water loss from the lungs and through the skin. A lack of adequate hydration at work can cause symptoms such as tiredness, loss of concentration and headaches.
How Can Hydration Improve Workplace Wellness?
Hydration should be at the forefront of every company’s wellness strategy since it can make a significant impact on health, happiness, and motivation. Without proper hydration, employees can experience adverse effects that can directly impede their work output and performances.
Hydration can have positive effects on the happiness of employees, as well hydrated have better cognitive skills and mental performance. These employees are also less fatigued, which assists in maintaining better spirits whilst in the workplace. Lethargy and confusion that can accompany dehydration have a negative impact on mood. Energetic and focused employees are more productive than dehydrated, fatigued workers. Hydrated employees get more done, and can concentrate for longer periods of time than those employees who are not adequately hydrated.
How to stay hydrated at work
Share these hydration strategies with your colleagues:
Drink frequently. Encourage employees to have water at their desks, or by taking frequent breaks to a water fountain. Make sure employees always have access to unlimited, cold water that is tasty and environmentally-friendly.
Limit caffeinated beverages.Caffeine can contribute to dehydration, as it has a diuretic effect.
Add some fruit.Many fruits are not only a great source of vitamins and minerals, they also contain a good dose of electrolytes and fluids too. Offer fruits that employees can use to transform their water into fruit-infused water.
A suitable emphasis on hydration should be a critical part of any business’s corporate workspace wellness strategy. It helps to not only ensure that you not only meet your legal obligations but also protect workers and your business ability to compete in the highly competitive marketplaces. Hydration must be viewed as both an individual health need and a business productivity concern.
Efforts to implement workspace health and wellness strategies in your business can produce a healthier and more productive workforce, that contributes to improved profitability, reduces stress, and boosts performance.
The following link it a great resource to calculate your hydration: https://www.camelbak.com/en/hydrated/hydration-calculator